Indian External Affairs Minister due in Islamabad Today
'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Desk

ISLAMABAD: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will arrive Pakistan today, Monday for his first meeting with the new government and to review a peace process that has been in the doldrums for more than a year.

Pranab Mukherjee will meet his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday, a day after their top civil servants hold talks.

The two countries launched peace efforts in 2004.

And a report from New Delhi says; A couple of agreements are expected to be inked during the first high-level contact between Pakistan and India on May 21 after the installation of new government in Pakistan.

Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will hold a review meeting on fourth round of Composite Dialogue with his Pakistani counter- part Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad to assess the progress made on the eight subjects covered under the Composite Dialogue process.

The ministerial level meeting will be preceded by Secretary level-talks to be held between Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Shivshankar Menon on May 20.

The subjects being discussed under the Composite Dialogue include Kashmir, peace and security, terrorism, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, trade and friendly exchanges.

Both the sides have expressed optimism on the forthcoming talks and they are expecting positive outcomes.

Proposals to make progress on different subjects have already been exchanged between them. Substantial progress has been made to reach understanding on easing visa regime, extending consular excess to prisoners at the earliest and cultural exchange during the talks.

Islamabad and New Delhi are moving ahead but with slow pace to normalise their relations since resumption of their talks in 2004. They have not allowed, so far making their talks hostage to the negativism.

In both the countries, political will exists to improve bilateral relations by resolving contentious issues. But there was strong need to translate it into actions.

Pakistani leadership including Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other leaders of political parties have expressed their desire to resolve all outstanding issues peacefully with India including issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Similarly, while referring to Jaipur blasts, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday terrorists want to prevent normalisation of Indo-Pak relations and that an effective strategy needed to be adopted to defeat such nefarious designs.

Talking to newsmen in Bagdogra (Bhutan) on conclusion of his two-day official visit, he said “we have to be mindful of these nefarious designs and we have to adopt effective strategy to counter all these dangers.”

Media reports citing Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon ahead of the talks said “the dialogue process has contributed so meaningfully to the improvement of relations over last four years. India is ready to carry the process forward. “

India was ready to address all issues with Pakistan, including Jammu and Kashmir, through talks, he said. But “atmosphere of peace is essential for the success of the dialogue process,” he added.

The Indian side will be going into talks with “positive” and “open” mind, media reports quoting sources here said.

Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to meet President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari and PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif during his stay in Islamabad.●